Take It To The Limit

Album: One Of These Nights (1975)
Charted: 12 4
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  • All alone at the end of the evening
    And the bright lights have faded to blue
    I was thinking 'bout a woman who might have loved me
    I never knew
    You know I've always been a dreamer
    Spent my life runnin' 'round

    And it's so hard to change
    Can't seem to settle down
    But the dreams I've seen lately keep on turning out
    And burning out and turning out the same
    So put me on a highway and show me a sign
    And take it to the limit one more time
    You can spend all your time making money
    You can spend all your love making time
    If it all fell to pieces tomorrow
    Would you still be mine?
    And when you're looking for your freedom
    Nobody seems to care
    And you can't find the door
    Can't find it anywhere
    When there's nothing to believe in still you're coming back
    You're running back, you're coming back for more
    So put me on a highway and show me a sign
    And take it to the limit one more time

    Take it to the limit, take it to the limit
    Take it to the limit one more time

    Take it to the limit, take it to the limit
    Take it to the limit one more time

    Take it to the limit, take it to the limit
    Take it to the limit one more time

    Take it to the limit, take it to the limit
    Take it to the limit one more time

    Take it to the limit, take it to the limit
    Take it to the limit one more time

    Take it to the limit, take it to the limit
    Take it to the limit one more time

    Take it to the limit, take it to the limit
    Take it to the limit one more time Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 46

  • April Herrett from North GeorgiaI don't think Randy was shooting us a straight story when he mentioned the getting old thing and doing something for the last time. He wasn't old at all when he wrote that song. I put in another comment earlier that I feel is the real state of mind behind that song. He couldn't expose those details at the time he wrote the song. He was a young man with a lot of women crazy about him, he had married a high school sweetheart that he somewhat grew out of as he became famous but true to his MidWest roots, and considering he had kids, Randy was somewhat stuck in that situation while the rest of world was living the Free Spirit Lifestyle.
  • April from Currently N Ga, From Sedalia MissouriI'm pretty sure that Randy was singing about his confusion over other young women he met while performing, his slightly promiscous lifestyle on the road while his marriage to his high school sweetheart was crumbling... along with the sexual intonation.of going to the limit. The song is about our free and easy lifestyle and his struggle to be a married man. For a number of years during his rise to stardom, he was still married but I think he felt trapped and unbalanced from that marriage even before he divorcedi He was a beautiful man, a kind and incredibly talented man that fame somewhat stole part of the good fortune in his life. His fame was a blessing and a curse for a young farmers son from Nebraska.
  • Sam from LaWhen this song came out in November 1975, I was dating a younger woman 17. She reminded me of Jenny in Forrest Gump. I knew that at any time she would be gone, so I would play this song every time we make love. And the last time in late January 1976, I told her to remember me when she would hear this song. I know that there is no way that she did not think about me every time from then on when she heard, Take it to the limit. Because the song reaches down deep into your heart and stirs such strong emotion!
    Turns out two years later, we met in a fried chicken place and I was with a young woman I would marry. The one she was telling me about when we were together. Oh she said how beautiful and fine this girl was. She told me once that she would like to see the man that this girl would Marry! Low and behold it turned out to be me! She just stood there in the restaurant looking at this girl dumbfounded. Karma??? As if to say, I must be the biggest idiot in the world. I left this man for a jerk. The guy she married was a gigolo. He got her pregnant just after she married him and then in one year left her and divorced her. I am still married to my wife, that girl she used to tell me about, for 41 years. It’s life strange. When I hear songs from the 60s and 70s it brings me back to where I was and what I was doing. Isn’t that true?
  • Liberty Justice from Pelican Bay TexasIt always pisses me off when I see the now late Glenn Frey introduce this song on videos and say he and Don Henley wrote Take it to the Limit with no mention of Randy co-writing the song. As far as Im concerned, Randy Meisner owns this song. He is credited on the lyrics as a songwriter and the words are a reflection of his life especially when it says "put me on a highway, show me a sign". That is pure Randy. He grew up near my hometown in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. I did get to see his copy of the gold record for hotel California. He has had many trials and tribulations and demons to deal with, but, after all, most of us has those to deal with. This song to me is about the sadness we all deal with and how we get back up and keep going.
  • Eric from Laffayette IndianaEvery once in a while in life a miracle happens and while I love every song the eagles ever made still to this day when I hear randy sing this song I'm reminded that a miracle happened when he sang it nobody else will ever be able to sing it the way he did or even come close I'm sure that not even he knew what a miracle this song was to his life at that time or how it would play a role in how he is remembered
  • Jm from Philadelphia, PaDave Mason recorded this song and for a long time used as his encore on the road. Dave's voice is perfect for this song. It truly is a masterful rendition of a beautiful song.
  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaBarry so sad to hear the bad news. loved this song especially the line about trying to find the door to freedom. Hope things work out for him.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyVery sad news per http://www.oldiesmusic.com/news.htm
    The wife of Eagles and Poco co-founder, bassist Randy Meisner was found shot to death Sunday night (March 6th, 2016) in the couple's Studio City, California home. Earlier that afternoon police had been called by Lana Rae Meisner because Randy was waving a BB gun and "acting erratically." However, two hours after police left, Randy called to report that Lana had shot herself or been killed by accident. An unidentified suspect was reported arrested and Randy was taken to a hospital in the early morning hours "acting in an altered state." He left the group in 1977 and suffered from bi-polar disorder.
    May she R.I.P.
  • Joe from Grand Island, NebraskaRandy Meisner is not the only lead singer on a hit song from the state of Nebraska. I can think of four right off... "In-a-gadda-da-vida" with Iron Butterfly's Doug Ingle of Omaha as lead singer and "She's a Beauty" with the Tubes Fee Waybill singing, also an Omaha native. 38 Specials lead singer on "Second Chance" is Max Carl, from Humphrey, Nebraska. And not least... "In the year 2525" by Zager and Evans, from Lincoln.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 7th 1976, "Take It To The Limit" by the Eagles peaked at #4 (for 2 weeks) on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; it entered the chart on December 14th, 1975 at position #80 and spent 22 weeks on the Top 100...
    It also reached #4 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart...
    Was the fourth in a string of six straight records by the group to make the Top 10; started with "Best of My Love" (#1 for 1 week), "One of These Nights" (#1 for 1 week), "Lyin' Eyes" (#2 for 2 weeks), this one, "New Kid In Town" (#1 for 1 week), and finally "Hotel California" (#1 for 1 weeks)...
    "Life in the Fast Lane" broke the string; but only by one position, it peaked at #11 (for 2 weeks)...
    Randy Meisner will celebrate his 68th birthday tomorrow on March 8th (2014).
  • Jon from Columbus, OhHow is this not considered one of the greatest songs of all time? There are few songs that come close to this song's magnificence. This song will never get old.
  • Camille from Toronto, OhDonna, I hadn't ever heard that about this song...but I came on here looking for some explanation of the lyrics and find none. It's just a big debate over the singers and their personal lives. I was a teenager in the 70s and yet the Eagles never really did much for me. There isn't a single song of theirs that I find ultra-amazing. I'm not even sure why they are so important to so many people. But that's just me. I don't hate their music, but I'm not crazy about it, either.
  • Donna from Delaware City, DeSomeone told me that this song was about suicide. Is this fact or fiction?
  • Jorge from Bronx, NyNot many bands nowadays can stay together as The Eagles have,write/sing great songs,and a band to have most of it's members singing,In fact i'am so sure The Eagles had another member not mention here,JD Souther was he an Eagle?
  • Steve from Trabuco Canyon, CaI saw Randy Meisner sing this with the Eagles once on the "One of These Nights" Tour at Kemper Arena in Kansas Cith the night before Thanksgiving. He has an awesome voice and is part of the original Eagles quintisential sound. I saw their next Tour "Hotel California" at Arrowhead Stadium a few years later and he was replaced by Tim Schmidt. Meisners' "Try And Love Again" was never released as a single from hotel California because he left the band, which is also a great vocal performance.
  • Mayank from Ranchi, IndiaI wonder why Meisner has been called as subdued. He wasn't subdued, its just that Henley and Frey led the band since they were also the key writers and hence they decided the types of songs the band will write and sing. By the way, the fact about this being one of the only 3 top 40 songs from the Eagles which were not sung by Henley/ Frey could be wrong (the other 2 being I Can't Tell You Why and In The City) - since Love Will Keep Us Alive was also under top 40, it could have also been # 1.
  • Joe from Frankfor, KyMarie, like the other post indicates, Timothy B. Schmit sings lead on "I Can't Tell You Why". But regardless you are correct that it is an amazing vocal. And really, how can anyone not LOVE the Eagles?
  • Marie from Buffalo, NyI used to listen to the eagles with my mom. This song has special meaning to me especially regarding the line " you can spend all your love making time" great lyrics...so true. Randy's voice in " I can't tell you why" simply awesome. Eagles still rock.
  • Frank from Lexington, KyWhen Rolling Stone did its top 100 albums, it specifically left off all of the artists from the California Sound genre, arguing that it was "anti-rock." Sounds like they grudgingly included some of these on the list of singles.
  • Ken from Louisville, KyMeisner left because he couldn't take the rock and roll lifestyle anymore. The endless touring, marathon studio session, drugs and groupies. He wanted a home and family. There were no hard feelings between him and the rest of the band. He even rejoined the band for a special apperance in the early 1990's to promote the "Common Threads" album where country signers covered Eagles songs. Also I heard an interview with Glenn Frey who said they really debated on doing this song in their reunion tours, since it was really a Randy Meisner song. In the end, the felt their fans would be disappointed if they didn't at least give it a try. Frey said he volunteered to sing lead, since Don Henley was reluctant to do it.
  • Jim from Long Beach, CaThis is Randy's song,no offense, but Frey can't hold a candle to Randy on this one..Great song..
  • Victor from Hermosillo Sonora, MexicoRandy left because things got hard dealing with success and the long tours, he simply got tired and wanted to spend more time with his family. Don and Glenn they didn{t want to stop touring and recording in spite of fame and money. Don Felder wrote this in his book "Heaven and Hell".
  • Janetlee from Panama City, FlThis is one of my all-time fave songs. Hotel California is up there too, but this one is just the tops for me! I even loved it as a little kid and remember listening to it on the jukebox at a small cafe.
  • Emily from Ocean Springs, MsMy father, who was in college around the time of this song, had a nerdy calculus teacher who would joke, "Alright guys, we're gonna do like the Eagles and 'take it to the limit one more time' ha ha..."
  • Liz from Smallville, KsMy older brother loves Randy Meisner's voice. I hated this song when I was like 8 years old. I think it was because I didn't know what the lyrics meant and it kept repeating "take it to the limit". It probably annoyed the hell out of me. But I love the song now.
  • Jeff from Chicago, GaI simply can't somach Frey singing this.. its way too much Randy for me. If they are gonna ditch him for the reunion they should have left this one out. But Frey and Henley have too much hubris.
  • Diane from Orlando, FlI love this song. It says what I feel most of the time. Like so much is happening in life that you just have to say, okay, just take it the limit one more time, stretch me once more. The details change but the theme is the same.
  • Chris from Rh, VaI made it thru my teenage years thanks to the Eagles. Randy Meisner leaving was devastating. The Eagles were Great with him and only good without. I really miss that voice in the harmony and think Take It To The Limit was one of there Greatest songs.He is definetly Not Arrogant!! I really still enjoy his solo releases .
    chris va
  • Rick from Tuscola, United Statesthe first concert i ever saw was at assmebly hall at the university of illinois. the warmup act was marshall tucker followed by the eagles. the year was 1973. take it to the limit was a great song. why meisner sang lead is beyond me. when the group has glenn frey and don henley to sing it makes no sense. most eagles songs were written by frey and/or henley. some were by jackson brown.
  • Ryan from Kansas City, KsI love the flow of this song. The Eagles had a ton of big hits, but I think this was one of the more underrated ones.
  • Ryan from Kansas City, KsMike -- Hotel California was No. 49 on the list and Desperado was No. 494. But you're right, The Eagles were tremendously underrepresented on that list.
  • Mike from Hueytown , AlThe Eagles Greatest Hit album is the # 1 selling album in U.S. History yet only one song from this album made it in the Rolling Stone's Top 500. What a crock ! Anyone please correct me if I missed a song on there but I don't believe I did. One way or another the Rolling Stone list is a worthless crock !
  • Don Ludden from Lincoln, NeThe statement that Randy Meiner is the only one from Nebraska to sing lead on a Top 40 hit is incorrect. Denny Zager & Rick Evans of Zager & Evans had a #1 hit in 1969 with "In The Year 2525".
  • Sara Mackenzie from Middle Of Nowhere, Flomg, glenn frey said that on "farewell 1" dvd about this "credit-card" song!!!!! :)
  • Jimmy from ViennaGlenn Frey also calls this song "the credit card song", because of his wife in plaintiff! ;-)
  • Garrett from Nashville, Tn1. Eagles Greatest Hits is indeed the biggest selling album in the history of the music business, surpassing Michael Jackson's "Thriller" about 7 years ago.
    2. Take It to the Limit is indeed in "waltz" time, although it almost sounds like it's in 6/8 time.
    3. Meisner was almost certainly the least arrogant member of the band. In fact, one major point of contention between him and the other guys was that he was uncomfortable singing it live, and constantly begged to not be forced to take the spotlight during the show. (It was their only hit in which he sang lead vocal.)
  • Josh from Magnolia, ArMan, that song does not quit. I like it though, it's got a very upbeat feel to me in spite of its lyrics for some reason. Must be the waltz-like ballad arrangement.
  • Bsd987 from Long Island, Nyum, Eagles: Their Greatest Hits is NOT the best selling album of all time. It was the best selling album of the 20th century in the U.S..
  • Sara Mackenzie from Middle Of Nowhere, Fleagles rock, end of story
  • Paul from London, EnglandAs I grew up listening to the albums by The Eagles I have to say that have inspired me. Take It To The Limit is one of my favourites. It's just a shame that they weren't as successful in my country.
  • Meagan from Baton Rouge, Laand i think thats hilarious colin from columbis about your teacher. priceless
  • Meagan from Baton Rouge, Lagreat song very good
  • Mike from Alexandria, VaCalling Randy Meisner arrogant in the context of The Eagles is a bit of a stretch. He left simply because after a certain point, they couldn't stand each other. Randy left AFTER "Hotel California", which any listener would have to agree was the group's high-water mark. His solo career may have seen limited success, but consider that the group's output in the 25+ years since he left has been "The Long Run" and "Hell Freezes Over". He picked a good a time as any to head out on his own.
  • Clay from Chattanooga, TnGlenn Frey sang lead vocals on this song during the Farewell I Tour. In his usual good humor he said that his wife referred to it as "the credit card song"
  • Dougie from Orlando, FlThis was a huge hit for the Eagles, and Randy Meisner sang lead vocals. Randy got a little arrogant after the success of this song, decided to leave the Eagles and start a solo career.
    He eventually catapulted into obscurity while the Eagles continued to become legendary.
    One of the music industries bad decisions of all time!
  • Colin from Columbia, MdI always loved this song, but it's meaning changed dramatically back in high school. My calculus teacher was a big Eagles fan, and when we were taught the concept of limits, this song was played continuously to get us in the mood for math.

    Take it to the limit....one more time.
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